Processors pack video, graphics multimedia features

Freescale Semiconductor has beefed up its i.MX51 processor portfolio with devices that will help customers differentiate in the automotive, industrial and consumer sectors. The new devices are the i.MX514 and i.MX516 processors for automotive applications, and the i.MX512 and i.MX513 processors for industrial and consumer applications.

The i.MX512 and i.MX513 are designed to meet critical industrial market requirements such as intuitive user interfaces, sophisticated graphics processing and extensive connectivity options. Both devices deliver 600MHz performance at industrial temperature ranges and the i.MX513 additionally incorporates hardware video encode/decode functionality. The devices are also available in consumer versions with the core performance enhanced to 800MHz. The consumer versions are well-suited for the eBook, IP camera and V2IP media phone markets.

The i.MX514 and i.MX516 processors are AEC-Q100 qualified devices, designed for a variety of both in-dash and after-market automotive applications. Delivering 600MHz performance at automotive temperature ranges, the products are intended for display-based instrument clusters, navigation, telematics and infotainment platforms, as well as other automotive applications. The devices include advanced graphics capabilities, and the i.MX516 additionally incorporates a powerful video encode/decode hardware engine to provide rich multimedia experiences for drivers and passengers.

All devices in the family are pin-compatible and based on Freescale's optimized implementation of the ARM Cortex-A8 core. The products integrate five processing engines and deliver a variety of video, graphics and multimedia feature combinations to meet specific market requirements. The i.MX51 family products feature a vast array of connectivity options and are additionally notable for supporting multiple memory types, including DDR2.

To streamline development and deliver a more comprehensive solution across multiple markets, Freescale offers BSPs for Linux, Windows' Embedded CE6.0 and the Android OS, all optimized for the i.MX51 family. The company has also introduced a complementary power management device, called the MC13892 that works with the i.MX51 processors to enable smaller, more energy-efficient products that deliver high performance with low power consumption.

Freescale is now sampling the consumer, industrial, and automotive versions of the i.MX51 family, with pricing starting at less than $20 (USD) in small quantities. Fully qualified consumer i.MX51 products are shipping in production today, with industrial and automotive qualifications planned for Q1 10.

An i.MX51 evaluation kit is available for order now as part number MCIMX51EVKJ. For less than $700 suggested resale, the kit ships with pre-loaded software images for both the Windows Embedded CE and Linux operating systems. Additionally, source code for the software is also available online now for customers to download.

- Ismini Scouras
eeProductCenter

For application notes on processors click here.